Category: Watch Tower
Opinion: Will the “tax shock” kill Sri Lankan economy?
By Indika Hettiarachchi “Current IMF backed tax policy framework likely to slowdown economic growth and increase poverty.” Under the latest IMF extended fund facility program, Sri Lanka has achieved substantial increase in tax revenue – to a level never seen in the history. Data show that for the first quarter of 2026, tax collections increased […]
Opinion: We Were Here First – The Case for Malay Political Representation in Sri Lanka
By Thanzyl Thajudeen, a Sri Lankan Malay There is a mosque on Slave Island in Colombo that has stood for more than three centuries. Masjidul Jamiya was not built by merchants or pilgrims. It was built by soldiers, Malay soldiers who came to this island in service to the Dutch crown and, after 1796, to […]
Opinion: India–SL Binational Bridge & Tunnel – Why SL Should Embrace the Opportunity of the Century
By Jithendra Antonio For decades, Sri Lanka has debated ports, airports, expressways, free trade agreements, and foreign investments as pathways to economic transformation. Yet one proposal has consistently resurfaced across governments, administrations, and geopolitical cycles as perhaps the most consequential infrastructure project ever contemplated for the island nation: a permanent land connection between India and […]
Healthy minds, safe workplaces: A shared responsibility for Sri Lanka’s future of work
By Joni Simpson and Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav She wakes before the mist clears. By the time most of Colombo is having breakfast, she has alreadybeen working for two hours, plucking, carrying, meeting a daily quota that does not changeregardless of her rest, discomfort or nourishment. She works on a tea plantation and is among […]
Sri Lanka’s Competitive Edge: Intellectual Property Rights and the Power of Geographical Indications
By Dilani Hirimuthugodage, Research Economist, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) With Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness steadily declining in major destination markets amid global economic uncertainty, the need to explore innovative tools for sustaining export growth has become urgent. Improving export competitiveness is essential for robust growth. One powerful, yet often underutilised, tool […]
Petrol, Pressure and Public Sentiment: Sri Lanka’s Fuel Crisis Through the Lens of Real Conversation
Over 64,000 engagements. More than 3,100 online results. 853 unique voices. Nearly 30 per cent of conversations running negative. Talkwalker captured the full arc of Sri Lanka’s National Fuel Pass conversation as it unfolded and what it reveals about public trust, economic anxiety, and the cost of getting policy wrong should matter to every institution […]
Middle East Conflict: The Impact on Migration and Remittances in Sri Lanka
Bilesha Weeraratne, Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East (ME), Sri Lanka finds itself at a particularly vulnerable juncture as it carefully navigates a fragile economic recovery. Labour migration offers jobs to counteract the lack of opportunities within the economy. Related micro-level remittances prevent households […]
Opinion: Oil, Inflation and the QR System
By M. Rizwan Muzzammil Recent unrest in the Middle East has raised concerns that Sri Lanka may face a shortage of oil supply. Because oil plays such a central role in the economy—powering transportation, construction, electricity generation, and many other activities—many observers expect that such a shortage will inevitably lead to inflation. This expectation is […]
Oil Equilibrium: Why Global Energy Prices Could Redefine Sri Lanka’s Economic Future
By Dr. Gayan Gunewardana (MBA, CIMA/CGMA, FRM/ GAP, AIB) & Y.K Sajani Harishchandra (MBA, ACA) 1. Introduction: When Oil Moves, Economies Shift In the modern global economy, oil is more than a commodity; it is a macroeconomic force that shapes inflation, trade balances, fiscal stability, and the pace of global growth. For Sri Lanka, the […]
Import Price Shocks of the Hormuz Crisis 2026: How Will This Affect Sri Lanka?
Dr Asanka Wijesinghe, Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has unsettled global energy markets. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), 20 Mn barrels of crude oil products were transported through the Strait in 2025, which accounted for a quarter of the world’s daily energy […]
Protecting Public Interest: Why Mid Month Revisions & Targeted Welfare are Vital to Defeating Fuel Hoarding
Advocata’s opinion on recent fuel price hike We commend the Government’s decisive move to revise fuel prices mid-month without prior notice. This action protected consumers from artificial scarcity and market manipulation. By breaking the traditional end of month cycle, the Government removed incentives for hoarding by both consumers and retailers. Had the Government waited until […]
The New Silk Route: Geopolitical Turbulence and the Strategic Opportunity for SriLanka’s Aviation Assets
By Riyad Riffai The escalating tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel have once again exposed the fragility of the global aviation map. For three decades, the great Middle Eastern “super-connectors” Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways built a dominant global network on the promise of geographic efficiency, linking Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia […]